You may remember seeing our friend, Chantel, popping up in projects here and there. She was over last week and when she visits, she wants to help get something done! We were so excited to take down that “awning” over that far back window, we didn’t even set up a camera! We removed that thing (which weighed about 50lbs) AND the light fixture!
We also moved Wes’ humidor into our bedroom, the excess clothes that have no home into the front room/porch thingy and relocated all the other crap –so I could have somewhere to set up a makeshift office. This “makeover” is ugly as all get-out but it’s a functional change. Removing those lurking overhead objects makes the space feel open and this makes us all feel happy! (Plus, now I have somewhere to sit down to my computer (calendar, notepads and all the other crap that makes my “business” feel organized) and can actually edit photos and write a post! Woohoo!
Big fake beams!
Next we decided to take out those big fake beams in the doorway to the kitchen. I had thought I would need to hit them with the reciprocal saw, but hadn’t wanted to try to find that in the mess of my workshop — just to take out those beams. However, I had recently found it, so when Chantel said, “Should we take out these beams?” I was game!
Turns out, the recip saw wasn’t even needed. Firstly, it was just making a mess so when I went to change the blade, Chantel mentioned thinking we might be able to knock it out with just a hammer.
And she was right! A couple whacks and that single 18 gauge, about 1″ of nail that was protruding into the cleat couldn’t hold out.
You don’t even have to “just imagine” my happiness because I had set up the camera when I realized we were demo’ing! (Also, we told Wes he had to stay out in the gazebo until we were ready. He was nervous but I told him to “trust me”. “It would be better when we were done”. I promise”)
Kitchen
Next, we tackled the kitchen. We first removed the light fixture that Wes and I both keep hitting with our heads (’cause we both lean over the counter, apparently).
Then we “explored” removing the fake beam, post, thingamajig over the gas cooktop (that has no vent). Each “leg” was secured to the countertop with one 2 1/2″ drywall screw and only one side was secured to the flimsy ceiling grid with another drywall screw! We were so excited thinking how easy it was to get this big lump of nonsense out of the way!
Then we saw that the one leg was encasing a very wide diameter tubing. I’m not sure if it’s a gas line or if it’s power. Either way, we couldn’t take out the whole thing and would have to leave that leg. I cut the thing in half to make it more a manageable mess to deal with. Chantel suggested we use that half as a new mail box holder. (Which we need!)
I cut off the rest of the “protrusions” and re-secured the post to the counter and ceiling (what a joke). Chantel swept and cleaned and Wes re-entered the house. He was NOT disappointed. His trust in me (and my spontaneous demo mode) is strengthened! (For now.)
Piano Room
This house is really small, compared to Richwood. We have 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a “music room”. This room has housed the piano and all of Madison’s instruments but it’s mostly been a storage room for a some of Julie’s belongings. Now she has a place for them so I get to make this room something useful and …as pretty as I can make it without doing any major demo. As in, I’m not moving the windows down to a normal height. Those windows are going to reallllly bug me but I’m not going to touch them yet.
Removing the drapes was a great start!
Then paint. I started with the walls and will come back to paint the window casings. I was too antsy to get to the biggest part of this room makeover.
The ceilings! I am sooooo excited to take down the yuck and make this room pretty! You know, since I have a week or two to kill until this overbearing heat passes.
Ok, so all these little projects haven’t really made the house less ugly -but at least we’re not going to whack our heads on things! And this one room here — it’s going to be kinda pretty when I’m done.
Pam says
Why did you move to a smaller house?
Sandra says
We didn’t buy this place for the house. We’ll have to add on eventually but have other needs that will come first.
Barbara H. says
So happy to see progress inside the new house. Also glad your heat has broken. Ours has finally loosed it’s grip today (Sunday) and we might actually get some rain tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Keep up the good work.
Sandra says
Yes it was GREAT to have a nice, cool(ish) day yesterday and today! I’m not doing too much in the house — but every bit helps.
Carla S Radke says
Such an odd house. Your before and afters will be spectacular.
Sandra says
Guess that’s the great thing about getting a wonkadoodle house! Great before and afters. LOL
Stacey J. says
I love watching you tackle the projects in your home…you keep me inspired to keep moving with my one woman reno in my home 🙂 You also introduced my to my absolute favorite tool now…my track saw!
Question for you…with such a long time between when you’re able to start and complete room projects…how do you manage to create a plan for a room and stick to that plan? As I go from room to room, I try to create a plan on what I want to do but because it takes such time for me to complete a room project…I often find myself constantly revamping my room plans…it’s almost like planning ADHD!
Sandra says
So glad you love your track saw. It’s definitely a game changer. I do move on from projects before they’re finished quite often. Sometimes it’s because there’s something that needs to be done to an adjoining space. Other times it’s just cabinet doors and trim. Sometimes I have the big picture plan up front, before I start a project. Other times, I only have part of the plan and know that I will figure out the rest when I need to. For the sake of blogging (documenting and sharing it with you all), I wish I could just do a room, start to finish. It would make my “online business” so much easier. But that’s not how I work…and if there’s one thing about me that I hope is crystal clear, it’s that I am authentic with you. It’s really important for me to show you how all this happens, in real life. Not a “made for TV” renovation. The down and dirty, craziness of it all. It’s messy and chaotic. Until it’s not. And then it’s usually pretty awesome. (Even if you changed your plan midway — several times.)
liz says
Can’t wait to see the “after” photos. You guys are amazing.
Sandra says
Well, the “afters” won’t come for a while. I’m not going to do anything major inside the house for a while. Probably. Unless I get sick of it and literally CAN NOT stand it another day…then Wes will come home to a missing wall and it will have begun! lol We’ll see.
Brittany Bailey says
I can’t believe that faux beam doorway thing lasted this long. LOL. Farewell, we won’t miss you.
Sandra says
LOL I know! But I thought it was going to be a beast to remove…had I known all I needed to do was knock it a couple times with a hammer! Oh well. It’s gone now. Finally. LOLOLOL
Suzanne says
There are definitely some strange design choices be previous owners in that house. That doorway thing was just plain weird. Looking at it gave me claustrophobia.
Sandra says
If only I would have knocked it with a hammer months ago. LOL
sweetfe says
I am so glad you started on the piano room! The walls look so much better white. Are you going to raise the ceiling in that room at all? Maybe do another Box Beam Ceiling in there? The kitchen looks like it may be a big project with the weird tubing. That odd shaped island is a really perplexing design. Go you!
I hope you are donating the curtains.
Sandra says
I’m not doing any major renovations in this house yet. I’m starting with this room. We’ll see how long I can live with the kitchen. I don’t want to get into that until I have the “whole house” plan (but getting around the crooked island when bringing anything into the house is a pain).
I’ll send the curtains and hardware (and light fixtures) to a donation center.
Teresa Kirkland says
Omg…can’t wait to see what you do to the kitchen. There’s so much that doesn’t make sense! Just wondering why you painted the “piano room” before taking down the drop ceiling? Good luck sweetness!
Sandra says
I painted before removing the ceiling tiles because I didn’t want to open up the room to the attic space until absolutely necessary. The roof is insulated but the air up in that space is a bit warmer and it’s where bugs have gone to die and spiders have weaved their webs, undisturbed.